Golf practice device



Dec. 24, 1968 .1. CURRY 3,417,620

GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE l "4- INVENTOR. JOHN CURRY We@ @Pf n,

TTORA/Y Dec. 24, 1968 J, CURRY 3,417,620

GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE Filed OCT.. 24, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N o w; 'f flllllllllllllTsl Q r Il r m z N m 8 i N INVENTOR. ly: JOHN CURRY N f BYViera@ 0? N '2 N ,qrrozNfY United States Patent O Filed Oct. 24, 1966,Ser. No. 588,952 9 Claims. (Cl. 73-379) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A golfpractice device whereby a simulated ball is struck by the golf club, andan indication of the yardage and trueness of the stroke is indicated.Said indication of the yardage being recorded by a rotatable arm whichdrives a threaded indicator pin along an upright screw threaded post,the distance traveled by the pin along an adjacent scale carried by the`arm being the measure of the yardage. Said trueness of the stroke beingrecorded by electrical contacts positioned inside the simulated ball,and upon impact with the club, the contacts are activated to complete anelectric circuit, whereby indicator lights are flashed to produce theindication of trueness.

The present invention relates to improvements in a golf practice deviceand it consists in the constructions and arrangement of partshereinafter described and claimed.

My golf practice device is an aid to golfers in all stages ofexperience, from amateur to professional, and will aid them in acquiringand/or maintaining the ability to hit a golf ball without hooking orslicing it. The device helps a golfer to hold the golf club properly sothat his swing will not be inside or outside which causes what iscommonly known as a hook or a slice The device will also indicate thelength of a golf ball shot in yards that may be attained with the sameamount of power used by the golfer in his swing. An added feature of thedevice is that it can be used yany place where there is suicient room toswing a club, commonly described as a one-wood. Indicator lights will beilluminated when the golf club hits the simulated golf ball which undernormal conditions would produce a hook or a slice shot and this willinform the golfer what type of a stroke he has just produced. When theface of the club head strikes the simulated golf ball dead-on for astraightdown-the-fairway shot, both lights will be activatedsimultaneously and the golfer will know that his swing of the golf clubwas correctly made.

The parts of the device can be disassembled for compact storage ortransportation and certain of the parts can be folded to occupy a smallspace. This will permit the device to be packed into a small containerwhen not in use. The device is simple in construction and is durable andetlcient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specication continuesand the novel features of the invention will be set forth in theappended claims.

Drawings For a better understanding of my invention, reference should bemade to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application inwhich:

FIGURE l is a side elevation of the device which has been designed to beused by a right handed golfer.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the hollow sleeve when looking in thedirection of the arrows 2 2 of FIG- URE l, and shows the counter-slideslidably received in the sleeve. The sleeve has an elongated slot orwindow for exposing the counter-slide and a yardage-indicating scaleparallels the window for indicating the yardage a golf ball would havetravelled if hit with the same force as that received by the simulatedgolf ball when struck by the club.

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FIGURE 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken along the line 3 3 ofFIGURE l, and shows the counterslide in the yardage-indicating sleeve,the sleeve in turn being pivotally secured to the swivel arm.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken along the line 4 4 ofFIGURE 1, and illustrates how the simulated golf ball is yieldinglysupported by the swivel arm.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken along the line 5 5 ofFIGURE 1, and shows two novel electric switches mounted in the simulatedgolf ball, either one or both of these switches being automaticallyclosed depending on how the golf club head strikes the ball. Thesimulated golf ball is the same size as a standard golf ball, but theback of the ball is cut away to give access to the ball interior.

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of a portion of the swivel arm when lookingin the direction of the arrows 6 6 of FIGURE 9, and illustrates the twolights that indicate when the golf club hits the simulated golf ball insuch a manner as to produce a hook or a slice When the club head strikesthe ball correctly, both lights will be `activated to indicate this.

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal section taken along the line 7 7 of FIGURE 1,and shows the counter post supported by the base or platform andillustrates the part of the swivel arm that is rotatably and removablymounted on the base. A key or keeper is received in an annular groove inthe counter post and permits rotation of the swivel arm when the ball isstruck by the golf club while preventing the swivel arm from riding uponthe counter post.

FIGURE 8 is a simple Wiring diagram which is used for each of the twoindicator lights.

FIGURE 9 is a view showing the parts of the device disassembled with theswivel arm removed from the counter post, this being made possible whenthe key or keeper is freed from the annular groove in the post. Also thehollow sleeve with its counter-slide has been swung about its pivotalconnection so as to extend substantially in line with the length of theswivel arm. The jointed and normally radially extending legs have beenswung into collapsed position and substantially parallel the axis of thecounter post.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should beunderstood that various changes, or modifications may be made within thescope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed description In carrying out my invention, I provide a base orplatform indicated generally at A in FIGURES 1 and 7. The base iscircular in shape and may be weighted to support the mechanism whichwill presently be described. A post B is centrally mounted in the baseA, and it has a threaded portion 1, and an annular groove 2, the groovebeing spaced a predetermined distance above the top of the base. Thepost B extends perpendicular to the base.

Articulated legs C are pivotally secured to the base A at 3 and can beswung from an inoperative position shown in FIGURE 9, into an operativeposition where they will extend radially from the base as shown inFIGURES l and 7. lI provide six legs, but I do not wish to be confinedto any exact number. All of the legs are of identical construction andtherefore a description of one will suffice for all and similar partswill `be given like reference numerals. Each leg is composed of twosections, an inner section shown at C1 and an outer section `shown atC2.

Each inner section C1 has a stop 4 that abuts the outer periphery of thebase A when this leg section is swung from la position substantiallyparalleling the axis of the post B, into a position where it will extendradially with respect to the center of the base. A11 inverted U-shapedmember 5 pivotally connects the inner leg section C1 to the outer legsection C2, as clearly shown in FIGURE 1. A stop 6 on the outer end ofthe leg section C1, and another stop 7 on the inner end of the legsection C2, abuts the U-shaped member 5 when the outer leg section C2 isswung into alignment with the inner leg section C1. If desired the legsC may `be provided with ground-penetrating pins or spikes 8 and theseare received in recesses 9 in the adjacent leg sections when the legsections are swung into inoperative position as shown in FIGURE 9.

I will now describe the swivel arm D which carries the simulated golfball E, see FIGURES 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9. The arm has a circular innerrecess 11 provided in the top of the base A, note FIGURE 7, where theswivel arm D is shown separated from the base. A metal keeper or key Fof the shape shown in FIGURE 9, is removably received in the `groove 2,after the bushing 1G` with its bore 12 is slid over the post B and ismoved so that the bushing will be rotatably received in the circularrecess 11. The keeper F prevents the swivel arm from riding upwardly onthe post B when the arm is rotated about the post.

The swivel arm D is preferably square in cross section and is hollow asshown in FIGURE 4. Two indicating lights for hook and slice golf strokesare mounted on the swivel arm D, and are shown at G and H in FIGURE 6. Abattery for each light is removably mounted in the swivel arm and asliding door I is shown in FIGURE l, for closing the openings to thebattery receiving compartunents, not shown. A simple wiring circuit asillustrated 2 in FIGURE 8 is associated with each stroke-indicatinglight and it will 4be described hereinafter. The battery receivingcompartments may be provided with fixed electrodes, not shown, that willautomatically connect the batteries into the electric light circuits bythe mere insertion of the batteries into their compartments.

The swivel arm D carries the simulated golf ball E, at its outer end.Both FIGURES 4 and 5 show an attacharm K yieldingly connecting thesimulated golf ball to the swivel arm. rIlhe attach-arm K is in the formof a lazy-S `and extends at right angles to the `swivel arm.

The simulated golf ball E is preferably :made from a rigid plastic andthe outer spherical surface 13 of the ball is the same size as astandard golf ball. However, the simulated golf ball E is only slightlylarger than a half sphere of tlhe standard golf ball. In other words thesimulated golf ball has its rear edge 14 lying in a plane that is spacedabout one-fourth of an inch from a parallel plane that cuts the golfball in half, both planes also extending parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the swivel arm D. A metal strip 15 extends across the open rearof the simulated golf-ball E and is welded or otherwise secured to theadjacent end of the attach-arm K.

Two rubber inserts G1 and H1 are mounted in two openings 16 and 17,provided in the wall of the ball E, the wall being about one-fourth inchthick. Two flexible electrodes G2 and H2 have their ends 18 and 19,respectively embedded in the wall of the simulated golf ball E, seeFIGURE 5. The outer tip '20 of each ilexible electrode G2 and H2, isspherical and is removably received in the spherical inner end of asocket 21 provided in each rubber insert G1 and H2. The outer tip orhead 20 has a smaller diameter neck that is received in the smallerdiameter neck portion of the socket 21. When a golf club head strikesthe outer surface 13 of the simulated golf ball E, near the rubberinsert G1 or the rubber insert H1, then the ilexible electrode G2 or H2disposed near the struck surface will have its spherical tip 20 driveninto the adjacent socket. The shape of the socket 21 will hold the tipin the rubber insert. To release the tip from the socket, the operatorpresses on the outer convex end of the rubber insert and this will forcethe spherical head or tip 20 out of the socket 21.

The tip 20 is made of an electrical conducting material such as metaland constitutes the outer end of `a switch arm, the flexible electrodeG2 or H2, constituting the arm itself. A ring-shaped electrical terminal22 is mounted in the enlarged inner portion of the socket 21 and iscontacted tby the spherical head or tip 20 of the flexible electrode G2or H2, this depending upon where the golf club head strikes the `surface13 of the simulated golf ball E. The ring-shaped terminal constitutesthe other part of the electric switch. A pair of wires 23 and 24 leadfrom the electrode G2 and the ring 22 in the rubber insert G1,respectively. These two wires then are enclosed in a cable 25 thatextends from the simulated golf ball E and enters the interior of theswivel arm D. The wires 23 and 24 are electrically connected to abattery L and to the indieating light G that represents a hook shot, seethe simple wiring diagram in FIGURE 8.

The other indicating light H, representing a slice shot, has wires 26and 27 connected to it and to a battery and then the wires are connectedto the electrode H2 and to the terminal ring 22 mounted in the socket 21of the rubber insert H1. The wires may extend through the same cable 25for portions of their lengths. If the golfer should make a perfect swingand cause the club head to strike the surface 13 of the simulated golfball E, midway between the two rubber inserts G1 and H1, then theinertia of both of the flexible electrodes G2 and H2 at the moament ofimpact will cause the sockets 21 of both rubber inserts to receive thetips 20 of both electrodes and close @both electric circuits, one toeach of the two indicating lights, G and H, causing them both to beilluminated. The golfer will then know that his golf club swing has beencorrectly made. The electrodes can be freed from the rubber inserts bythe operator pressing inwardly on the convex outer ends of both inserts.

I provide a yardage-indicating apparatus for indicating the number ofyards a golf ball would have travelled if it had been hit with the sameforce by the golf club that strikes the simulated golf ball E. InFIGURES 1 and 3, I show a hollow sleeve M that is pivotally mounted onthe top of the swivel arm D, by a hinge 28. The hinge 28 is mounted atthe back side of the sleeve M so that the sleeve cannot swing to theleft in FIGURE l from its vertical position. The sleeve M, however, canbe swung to the right as shown in FIGURE 9, when the swivel arm D hasbeen freed from the post B, and the operator wishes to swing the sleeveinto a parallel relation with the length of the swivel arm D, so as totake up less lateral space.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a front view of the hollow sleeve M, when lookingat the left hand side of the sleeve in FIGURE l. The sleeve has anelongated slot 29 in its front wall 30 and a scale 31 extends along oneedge of the slot and indicates distance in yards for the flight of agolf ball after being hit. The scale indicates the number of yards from"0 to 300 although I do not wish to be confined to any exact number ofyards.

A counter slide N is in the shape of an inverted 'U and one leg 32 isslidably received in the sleeve M while the other leg 33 parallels thepost B and is disposed close to it when the parts of the device are inassembled position as shown in FIGURE l. At the lower end of the leg 33,I provide a projection 34 that extends at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of the post B. This projection 34 has a concave recess35, see FIGURE 3, that has the same radius as that of the post B. Therecess 35 is threaded and the threads receive the threads 1 on the postB. The leg 33 has enough resiliency to permit the leg to ex when theprojection 34 is manually moved a slight distance away from the threads1 when the operator wishes to move the counter-slide N quickly into thesleeve M or when he wishes to remove the post B from the bore I12 in theswivel arm D for disassembling the parts for packlng.

The pitch and number of threads on the post B and in the threaded recess35 on the projection of the counter slide N is such that when thesimulated golf ball E is hit v hard enough to drive a stand-ard golfball, say one hundred yards, the struck ball E will rotate the swivelarm D through a suicient number of rotations about the post B to raisethe lower end 32' of the leg 32 from its initial registering positionwith the 0 mark on the scale 31 up to a position where the end 32 willregister with the mark 100 on the scale. The counter-slide or indicatorN will remain in the position into which it has been moved by therotating swivel arm D, and the golfer can then note how long a flightthe standard golf ball would have taken if it were hit with the sameforce. It is a simple matter for the golfer to return the countere slideback to starting position and this is accomplished by springing theresilient leg 33 away from the post B and sliding the leg 32 back intothe counter-slide sleeve 32 until its lower end 32 again registers withthe 0 reading on the scale 31, see FIGURE 2. If a left handed golfer isto use the device, the attach arm K would extend to the right in FIGURE4 rather than to the left and the simulated golf ball E would alsoextend to the right. Also the pitch of the threads 1 on the co-unterpost B would be changed So that a counter-clockwise rotation of theswivel arm D, would cause the counterslide N to travel upwardly on thethreads 1 and indicate the length of the golf ball shot on the scale 31.

Operation From the foregoing description of the various parts of thedevice, the operation thereof may be readily understood. FIGURE l showsthe device in operative position. If pins 8 on the legs C are used, thepins would be forced into the ground to anchor the device in place.

The golfer faces the front wall of the sleeve M and the swivel arm Dextends substantially toward him so that the simulated golf ball E willbe positioned directly in front. The golfer swings the golf club, notshown, so that the club head will strike the simulated golf ball E anddrive it so that the swivel arm D will be rotated clockwise about thepost B. The attach-arm K lwill act as a buffer-action for the initialharsh impact of the golf club face against the simulated golf ball E.The lazy-S shape of the attach arm K causes it to absorb the impact ofthe golf club through its spring-like action. The primary impact of theswinging club will be absorbed by the ballface 13. A secondary, butinstantaneous absorption will be through the spring-like action of theattach-arm K. A third, but also instantaneous absorption, will be theaction of the instant motion imparted to the swivel-arm D.

Either one or both of the flexible electrodes G2 and H2 will have theirspherical tips 20 driven into the sockets 21 of the rubber inserts G1and H1, this depending upon how the club head strikes the simulated golfball E. An inside-swing will indicate a hook shot and the illuminationof the hook light G will indicate this. Also an outside-swing willindicate a slice shot and will illuminate the slice light H on theswivel arm D. A perfect shot will cause both lights G and H to beilluminated. The closed electric circuits to the lights can be opened bythe golfer pressing against the mound-like protrusions of the rubberinsert portions that extend beyond the surface 13 of the simulated golfE. This will expel the spherical tips 20 from the inserts and open thecircuits.

The device will not only register a hook or slice shot or a perfect golfshot, but it will also indicate the length of the shot. The simulatedgolf ball E, lwhen struck by the golf club head will rotate the swivelarm D in a clockwise direction about the post B. The projection 34 ofthe counter-slide N, will have its threaded recess 35 ride on thethreads 1 of the counter-post B. The number of revolutions made by theswivel arm D will depend upon the force of the blow of the golf clubhead against the simulated golf ball E. This will move the lcounterslide N, upwardly in the sleeve M and the lower end 32 will move alongthe yardage scale 31, and when it comes to rest, it will indicate thelength of the ilight of a standard golf ball if hit with the same force.The counter-slide N can be returned to starting position and the deviceis ready for the next operation. The resilient leg 33 is pressed so asto free the projection 35 from the post B during the return movement ofthe counter-slide N.

In FIGURE 9, I show the parts of the device disassembled for packinginto a small space. The keeper or key F is removed from the groove 2 inthe post B, and then the leg 33 is flexed toward the leg 32 while theswivel arm D is moved off from the lpost. The depressing of the leg 33during this movement frees the threads 35 in the projection 34 from thethreads 1 on the post B, and this permits the ready sliding of theswivel arm D along the post B to free it from the post.

The radially extending legs C are now swung into folded position andinto parallel arr-angement with the axis of the post B, as shown inFIGURE 9. The sleeve M is swung about its pivot 28 so as to lie parallelwith the swivel arm D. The key F may be reinserted into the groove 2 inthe post B, so as not to become lost. The parts will now occupy lessspace and may be packed into a container, not shown.

The positioning of the inserts G1 and H1 in the ball E and thepositioning of the electrodes G2 and H2 with reference to the inserts isimportant. Note that the two inserts are disposed in a horizontal planeand at equal distances from the center of the ball and that the anchoredends of the electrodes are substantially at the ball center. If now thegolf club head should strike the ball in the area of the insert G1, theelectrode G2 would extend substantially at right angles to the directionof the blow and its head 20 would be driven into the socket 21 of theinsert to close the electric circuit and illuminate the hook indicatinglight G.

At the same blow just described, the lele-ctrode H2 would besubstantially in line with the direction of the blow and its head 20would not enter the socket 21 of the insert H1. The opposite would betrue if the golf club head should strike the ball E in the area of theinsert H1. Then the head 20 of the electrode H2 would enter the socket21 of this insert and the other electrode G2 would extend in the generaldirection of the blow and its head 20 would not be driven into thesocket of the insert G1.

It has already been pointed out that if the gold club head correctlyhits the ball E at its center which lies midway between the two insertsG1 and H1, then the force and direction of the blow will cause the heads20 of both electrodes G2 and H2 to enter their associate sockets. Bothelectrodes will extend at an angle to the direction of the blow and theelectrodes are resilient enough to permit their heads 20 to move intothe sockets of the associate inserts.

I claim:

1. A golf practice device comprising:

(a) a base having an upstanding post with a threaded portion;

(b) a swivel arm rotatable about said post;

(c) a simulated golf ball carried by the outer end of said arm;

(d) a yardage-indicating apparatus carried by said arm :and having ayardage-indicating scale for indicating the length of the flight of agolf ball; and

(e) an indicator slidably carried by said scale, and ratatably movabletherewith, for movement along the scale and having a threaded connectionwith the threaded portion on said post so that a rotation of said armabout said post, caused by said simulated golf ball being hit by a golfclub, will move said indicator about said threaded post for Aadvancingsaid indicator along said scale for showing the total yardage of thehit.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 and in which:

(a) said base has a plurality of legs pivotally connected to said baseand extending outwardly in radial directions from said post when thelegs are in operative position;

(b) each leg consisting of two hinged sections with the -outer sectionbeing foldable into parallel relation with the inner section and bothsections being swingable into parallel relation with the post axis whensaid legs are in inoperative position.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 and in which:

(a) said yardage-indicating apparatus comprising a Sleeve that parallelsthe post axis, said sleeve having a slot therein with ayardage-indicating scale paralleling the slot; and

(b) said indicator having a leg slidable in said sleeve and showingthrough the slot so that its inner end registers on the scale, saidindicator having an arcuate threaded recess meshing with the threadedportion of said post;

(c) whereby a rotation of said arm when said ball is hit will cause saidindicators threaded recess to move along the threaded portion of saidpost and move said leg for causing its inner end to register on saidscale.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 and in which:

(a) said sleeve is pivotally secured to said arm and is swingable into aparallel relation with said arm when said arm is removed from said post.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 3 and in which:

(a) the threaded portion of said indicator being movable out of meshwith the threaded portion of said post for permitting the leg of saidindicator to be moved in said sleeve into a desired position withrespect to said scale.

6. In a golf practice device:

(a) a simulated golf ball having a wall;

(b) resilient inserts mounted in said wall with the outer ends of saidinserts extending a slight distance beyond the outer surface of thewall;

(c) said inserts having electrode-receiving sockets, the sockets havingenlarged inner portions with narrow necks that open onto the interiorsurface of said Wall;

(d) a exible electrode for each insert and having one end anchored insaid wall and the outer end provided with a head removably receivable inthe enlarged inner portion of the socket;

(e) each electrode when in normal position holding its head inregistration with its associate socket and at a spaced distancetherefrom, said head being receivable `in the associate socket when saidball is struck by a golf club at a point near the insert, the narrowsocket neck retaining the head in the insert;

(f) an electric terminal mounted in each insert and contacted by saidhead when the latter is received in said socket;

(g) a separate golf stroke indicating light in electric connection witheach terminal, said electrode and head constituting the other terminalfor connecting said light to a source `of current when the electrodehead is received in the socket; and

(h) the protruding end of said insert being manually depressible forforcing said head from said socket for opening the electric circuit.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 and in which:

(a) an arm for carrying said lights; and

(b) an attach arm resiliently connecting said ball to said rstnamed arm.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7 and in which:

(a) said inserts being disposed equal distances from the center -of theball and their axes lying in the same lplane which in turn extendsparallel to the same plane in which said first-named arm lies;

(b) the anchored ends of the electrodes being at the center of the balland the lengths of the electrodes extending substantially at rightangles to the axis of their associate insert;

(c) whereby a blow of a golf club head on the ball near an insert willcause the head of the electrodes associated with the insert to move intothe socket of the same insert and be retained while the head on theother electrode will not enter the socket of the other insert.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8 and in which:

(a) a blow of a golf club head 0n the ball midway between the twoinserts will cause the heads of both electrodes to move into the socketsof the associate inserts and be retained.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,640,765 8/ 1927 Goldsworthy73-379 1,777,034 9/1930 Byrne 73-379 1,956,452 4/ 1934 Merritt et al73-379 2,095,062 10/ 1937 Glancey 73-379 2,656,720 10/1953 Sonnett73-379 3,351,347 11/1967 Smith et al 273--213 FOREIGN PATENTS 479,297 2/1938 Great Britain. 626,737 7/ 1949 Great Britain.

JAMES J. GILL, Primwry Examiner.

R. S. SALZMAN, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

